Vibrating self-distributor

ABSTRACT

A vibrating conveyor having a cylindrical container with a plurality of apertures in the vertical wall of the container. A spiral track is mounted inside the container on brackets repositionably secured in the apertures. An electromagnet is used to vibrate the container.

Oct. 1, 1974 United States Patent [1 1 Caffa Ram AV U EF M 1 M m cm B A Wm wm 1 mm@ m, PAT l l n a] t m. Rww mm mm am mmmn SC I W Dar-1 E 9 6 W Z m GGFM3 m mm N Rng lu B nm I Sup V.mAFA MHHN 57722 A vibrating conveyor having a cylindrical container with a plurality of apertures in the vertical wall of the 40 O H7 002 m B B 0 2 2 8 9 1 [52] US. [51] Int.

container. A spiral track is mounted inside the container on brackets repositionably secured in the aper- [58] Field of Search..... 198/136, 212, 220 BC, 204,

198/12 tures. An electromagnet is used to vibrate the container.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures 2,877,890 Carrier 198/220 BC EAIENIEuum mm FIG FIG 2 VIBRATING SELF-DISTRIBUTOR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the invention This invention concerns a vibrating self-distributor, consisting of a bedplate whereon a cylindric-, or cone-, or steppedshaped container is supported by means of springs or other similar elastic members, being the inside of said container formed with a spiral track along which workpieces, with which said container is charged, are moved when a vibration is imparted thereto by an electromagnet.

The vibrating self-distributors of the type as stated above are utilized for conveying, feeding, orienting and selecting, along said spiral track, workpieces of metal, wood, plastics or the like, that are loaded in bulk thereinto. Said vibrating self-distributors are widely utilized in the automatic machining processes, in the both manual and automatic assembling processes and so on.

2. Description of the Prior Art Already known are vibrating distributors comprising a container made of sheet steel or of semi-steel.

A drawback of such already known containers for vi brating distributors consists however in that they are relatively heavy, with consequent remarkable increase in their moment of inertia. Moreover all tracks in the container inside are fixed, whereby an adaptation to particular operating conditions cannot be obtained, i.e. no possibility exists to change or to adjust e.g. the pitch of spiral track according to workpieces to be fed. Even the width of track cannot be adapted to that of workpieces and in such cases another suitable container is to be substituted for the preceding one, and fitted on the vibrating set.

Finally, in the already known self-distributors no possibility exists to separate foreign matters, as e.g. cuttings and chips left from a previous machining operation, dust, small amounts of oil or water, from the workpieces.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The main purpose of this invention consists in the provision of a vibrating self-distributor free from the above stated drawbacks, and that can be inexpensively produced.

The above purposes are attained, according to the invention, by the provision of a vibrating selfdistributor of the type comprising a container fitted with a workpiece feeding spiral track, as well as with orientation and control devices, and wherein the container is wholly made of perforated sheet metal, and the workpiece feeding spiral track, along with the orientation and control devices, are removably fitted to the inner side of said perforated wall, and can be brought in different positions thereon by means of assembling members, that are engaged with the holes of the perforated wall, and in which they are then locked.

An embodiment form of the invention will be now disclosed in the following description, taken with the accompanying drawing, being both description and drawing given by way of a non restrictive example only. In same drawing BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of vibrating selfdistributor;

FIG. 2 is an axial section of the container of vibrating self distributor as shown in the FIG. 1, and

FIG. 3 is a section of the detail denoted by the symbol III in the FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now to accompanying; drawing, the vibrating self-distributor A, as shown in. the FIG. 1, consists of a bed-plate I, having fitted therein an electromagnet (not shown), by which a container 2 is acted upon, thereby imparting a vibration thereto.

The amplitude of vibrations generated by the electromagnet and imparted to container 2 can be adjusted by a knob 3, which is expressly provided on the bedplate.

According to this invention, the whole container 2 is made of a perforated sheet metal 4. On the inner wall of the container 2 a track 5 spirally extends from the bottom of said container, up to the upper edge 2' thereof.

Moreover, unlike the already known embodiment fonn, the track 5 is removably secured to the container inner wall by means of assembling, retainers 6, that can be engaged in the holes 4 of perforated wall, and by which the track 5 is supported.

The above arrangement allows to have spiral tracks adapted, e.g. as regard to track width, spiral pitch and the like, to meet the requirements of each case. fitted to a self-distributor already installed in the place of utilization.

As it can be appreciated from the FIG. 2, the track 5 is fitted to inner wall of container 2, e.g. by means of supporting retainers 6, that are engaged by their inner free end with the inner edge of related track 5, while their opposite ends are engaged into one of the holes 4 of the perforated wall, and are locked against the rear side thereof by means of screw nuts 7 or other suitable locking elements.

Shown in more detail in the FIG. 3 is a supporting arm 6, one end of which is engaged with the track 5, while the opposite end is inserted into one hole 4 of the containers wall, wherein it is then locked by means of a screwnut 7 or of any other suitable means.

The particular embodiment form of the invention also allows to have auxiliary devices 8 fitted in any point of inner wall of container 2. Such devices may be, e.g.: orientating means, overflows, level indicators, sensors, selectors, orientating and selector devices, automatic column breakers, gauges, counters, etc., by which the workpieces to be fed are counted, the presence or the absence of workpieces to be conveyed is checked, etc., all keeping into due account the features of workpieces to be fed.

By the use of a vibrating self-distributor designed according to this invention, the possibility is given to make use of a container wherein the tracks and the above mentioned devices are fitted as a function of workpieces to be fed, whereby said vibrating selfdistributor can be quickly adapted to changes and variations which may occur in the operation schedule.

It is to be understood that the invention is by no means restricted to embodiment form as previously described and illustrated by way of example. Obviously, both the container's shape, and the tracks, as well as the assembling device and methods may be modified, should such changes be required by the features of workpieces to be fed. Thus, e.g., the spiral track may consist of a structural shape of a synthetic resilient material and the assembling elements are not restricted to the embodiment form as shown. Moreover, use may be made of assembling elements which are snapfitted into the holes of perforated sheet wall, or the end of such elements which is to be fitted into the perforated wall may be rivet-like formed, or same end may be connected to same wall by spot-welding or the like. In addition to the afore mentioned advantageous features, the vibrating feeder according to the invention, allows for a more efficient galvanic treatment of container, owing ing of workpieces, the improvement comprising a plurality of perforations in the walls of the container, a plurality of support members mounted in said container, said support members having a configuration to receive the track for support thereof, and having portions inserted in selected, spaced apart perforations to support the track in a desired position at a desired orientation on the inside of the walls of the container.

2. The mechanism of claim 1 in which each of the support members has a hook at one end to hold the track against the walls and in which the opposite end of each of the support members is secured in a perforation.

3. The mechanism of claim 1 in which auxiliary devices are fitted to the perforated walls in desired relation to the track for cooperating interaction with workpieces on the track. 

1. A vibrating self-distributor of the type comprising a container having walls and having a spiral track within the container mounted on the walls for the feeding of workpieces, the improvement compRising a plurality of perforations in the walls of the container, a plurality of support members mounted in said container, said support members having a configuration to receive the track for support thereof, and having portions inserted in selected, spaced apart perforations to support the track in a desired position at a desired orientation on the inside of the walls of the container.
 2. The mechanism of claim 1 in which each of the support members has a hook at one end to hold the track against the walls and in which the opposite end of each of the support members is secured in a perforation.
 3. The mechanism of claim 1 in which auxiliary devices are fitted to the perforated walls in desired relation to the track for cooperating interaction with workpieces on the track. 